Mechanical toy



July 11, 1950 P. KOPF 2,514,450

MECHANICAL TOY Filed March 8, 1948 I I 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 JNVENTOR. PHIL IP KOPF.

A TTCENEX P. KOPF MECHANICAL TOY July 11, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 8, 1948 INVENTOR. PHILIP KOPF.

Armm/Em.

July 11, 1950 P. KOPF 2,514,45

MECHANICAL TOY Filed March 8, 1948 a hets-Sheet s INVENTOR. PHIL IP KOPF ATTOENEX Patented July 11, 1950 UNITED STATES PAT omcs MECHANICAL" TOY miiiiskaar, Brooklyn; 3?.

Application March s, 1948, seem-rm. 13,661

1 This invention relatesto atoy which simulates a'chicken inits ability to lay simulated eggs, to walk, and to produce clocking and cackling sounds. Toys of this general character have heretofore been devised- Some ofthemhave been provided with means for walking, others with means for laying eggs,- and still others with means-for producing sounds. In no case; however, has a toy of this-general character beendevised, in which all three accomplishments are combined in asingle integrated and synchronized whole. s

It is accordingly the principalobject of this invention' to provide a toy of the-character described. which looks and walks like a chickenwhich lays-simulated: eggs-after the manner of a chicken. and which accompanies its walkingand egg laying activities with appropriate realistic sound effects.

Another object of this invention is theprovision of atoy which has theappearance of a birdsuch as thehen of the domestic fowl and which is capable'oi-wal'king in a-manner which-simulates the walk of the-bird it resembles- It is well known thattoys have heretofore been made to simulate birds and; animals of many kinds andthat some of these toys have been provided with means enabling them to-wa-lk. In nocasehoweverhas the walkof these simulated bird and animals been realistic, and it is accordingly another object of this invention to provide means for enabling the: simulated bird hereinabove mentioned to walk realistically; I More specific ally,--the. toy herein claimed is providednot'only withmoving. legs but also'with feet-which are movable'relative to the legs. It will berememberedthatkwhen a; henor other bird isengaged in the act ofwalking; its head and neck are thrown forwardly and theri' retracted in-synchronization' the movement of the: legs; This very" movement of the head and neck is also simulatedin the toy here'- incla'imed, so that-its walk is'realis'tic not only in the manner in Whicli-it-ris'eS lgs and feet but also in the way" its head and neck' bob forwar dly and ba'ckwardly ifiaccompaniliient'therewith.

Preferred forms of this invention are shown iii the accompanying'drewing'in which I Fig; l is a, side view of-th'e" toyhen in the' proces of laying a simulated egg; I

Fig. 2 is a side view of the mechanismcontained in said hen, by which the hen. is enabled to perform the function's above mentioned; I

Fig. a is an enlarged fragmentary view,-.-part1-y 4 claims; (01. 46 98) 2 in-sectionof one ofthe sound producing means carried by the hen; I I v Fig. 4 is a view similar to that of Fig, 3 of anothersound producing means carried' by the henandsynchronized with the first sound-producingmeans; I I I I I I I Fig;5 is a fragmentary side view of the means by which the sound effects produced by the two sound prOduc-ing mechaniSms last above mentionedare modified torender them' even more a c; l J v.

Fig; Gis a view similar tothat of Fig-.geithe other side of the mechanism contained within Fig. 7 isa top view of said mechanism; I Fig. lorisa topview of the support'ing framework .of-saiclmechanism, by' which the mechanism is supported withinthe body of the hen; I I Fig. 8, is-a side viewof the mechanism carried by the hen asseen from the same side as Fig.2 is seen,- and showing the; clockwork mechanism therein which provides the motive power for the entire mechanism;

FigLQ is a fragmentary side view of on time .leg s' of the hen,showing it in forward position;

FigslO is afragmentary view of the leg,-showlrig it in partly retracted position; I I Fig. ll isabottom view of one of the feet; Fig. 12 is; afragmentary sectional side view similar to that of Fig. 10 of a modified forin of o t mes smi r Fig; 13'is a front'view thereof li ig 1e is a side view of the egglaying nearianism, showing the egg chute in. section; and I Fig-. l5 is aview similar tothat of Fig. 14', showing one of the eggs being releasedfrom the egg chute. I I I I I Itwillbe notes Fig. 1 that the toy herein claimed provided with a body 205ahead and neck i -Llegs 22-, and feet 231 .As will hereinafter more full'y appear, the headand neck 2 I are metable relative to tli'e bodyi l'l, and so re the legs and. feet ZZ and 23, and the feet. 23' are as has alreadybeeri. indicated movable with respect to the legs. it will also be noted in said Fig}; 1, as well as in Figs. 151. and'lb, that thetoy hen hereinclaimed is provided with simulated e s 24 which it lays in the fashion hereinafter described. I I

The source of motive power by which the several functions of the toy hen are preformed is the spring motor 25 which may b wound up by means of key 26 and which transmits power through'gear train 21 S pri-ng motor 25 issupportedin the news body by meansof eemew'm 'about pivot 33. the head and neck 2| in Fig. 1 indicate the extent 'member 4|. reflected in a corresponding movement of drum '42 since the two members move integrally with 30, and said framework is provided with supporting tabs 3| which extend through correspondingly located holes in the hens body and which hold the framework proper in place in said body.

The means by which the head and neck 2| of the hen are caused to bob forwardly and backwardly in the directions of the arrows in Fig. 1 may now be described. Member 2| is pivotally connected to thebody of the hen by means of rod 33 which 'is supported by framework 30, as is shown in Fig. 7. An elongated extension piece 34, having an elongated slot 35 formed therein is connected to member 2|. eccentric 36 which rotates on shaft 31, also carried by frame 30. It will be noted in Fig. '1 that a gear wheel 38 is mounted on shaft 31 and that said gear wheel engages the main gear wheel 39 of.

gear train 21 of the spring motor above mentioned. When the gear train is put into operation by the spring motor, gear wheel 39 will cause gear wheel 38 to rotate, thereby causing shaft 31 to rotate and with it eccentric '35. Since the eccentric is in engagement with the slotted extension piece 34 of member2i, it is apparent that said extension'piece and said member 2| will be caused to engage in a seesaw movement The dot and dash lines adjacent a live hen.

It will be noted in Fig. that eccentric 3B is provided with a peripheral or annular groove in which a bar 40 rides. Said bar is pivoted on pin "4| and isconnected to a drum-shaped diaphragm 42. A tension spring 43 engages bar 40 and tends to pull it downwardly against the action of the eccentric, as is clearly shown in Fig. 5. As the eccentric engages in its angular movement on shaft 31, it intermittently raises and spring 43 intermittently lowers bar 40 about its pivotal This pivotal movement of bar 40 is each other.

Aflixed to drum 42 is a pair of reeds 45 and "48 respectively. A large toothed wheel 41 engages reed 45, and cross-shaped member 48 which is toothed along its four ends intermittently engages reed 45. It will be noted in Fig. 7 that toothed members 41 and 48 are mounted on shaft 43 and that said shaft is connected to the gear train 21 of the spring motor 25. By reason of --such connection the toothed members 41 and 48 may be caused to rotate in the direction of the arrows in Figs. 3 and 4. Toothed wheel 41 will of. course be in uninterrupted engagement with feed 45 at all times but the cross-shaped member 43 will engage reed 46 only intermittently.

Referring once again to Fig. 5, it will be remembered that drum 42 is pivotally mounted on rod 4| and that the engagement of member 40 with eccentric 35 causes said drum to engage in a rocking movement. Since drum 42 carries the tworeeds"45 and 46, it will be understood that these reeds. by reason of the rocking movement of said drum, will be brought into stronger or weaker engagement with toothed members 41 and 48 as the case may be. Consequently, variations Slot 35 engages an a cackling sound which very closely simulates the cackling of a live hen. The engagement of serrated or toothed cross-shaped member 48 with reed 46 produces an intermittent sound which simulates the clucking of a hen. Since the two serrated members are mounted on the same drive shaft, it will be appreciated that synchronized cackling and clucking sounds are thereby produced. It will be observed, that reed 45 engages toothed wheel 41above pivot on drum 42 and that reed 46 engages toothed member '48 below said pivotal member 4 l. Remembering that drum 42 engages in a rocking movement about its said pivot 4|, it will be appreciated that the two reeds alternate in strongly or weakly engaging their respective toothed members. This feature also assists in lending realism to the cackling and clucking sounds produced by this sound mechamsm.

The egg laying mechanism is synchronized with the sound producing mechanism lastabove described. A chute 50 is provided to'receive and store simulated eggs 24 and to discharge or lay them at the proper time. A mechanism isiprovided, as Figs. 14 and 15'sh'ow; for controlling the passage of the eggs through said chute. The lowermost egg 24 is supported by a stop member 5| which prevents said egg from falling through the chute until the appropriate egg laying moment is reached. At said appropriate time stop' member 5| is retracted from its position in Fig. 14 to its position in Fig. 15, thereby releasing the' lowermost egg 24 from the chute. Simultaneously. a second stop member 52- is pushed into the position which it isshown to occupyin Fig. 15 from the position which it occupies in Fig. 14. In'Fig.14 stop member 52 is inactive but in Fig. 15 it serves as a stop member, preventing the second egg in line from fallingthrough the chute when the first egg is released therefrom. The next step in the sequence of events returns stop member '52 to its position in Fig. 14, thereby releasingse'oond egg in line and stop member -5| is-simu1tane0us1y also returned to'its position in Fig. 14 to engage 'said egg and prevent it from falling through the chute until the appropriate time for the next egg laying operation. The second egg now becomes the first egg is'line-an'd the process above described is repeated. 7 v i a Th mechanism which causes stop members 5| and 52 to move into and out of engagement with the eggs in the chute includes a rocking member 53 which is pivotally mounted on pin 54. A tension member 55 engages-rocking member 53 and tends to urge it into the position which it is shown --to occupy in Fig. 14. Stop members 5| and 52 are connected to said rocking memberv 53, one at the. upper and one at the lower end thereof, and it will therebybe apparent that the rockingmovement of rocking member 53 alternately causes said stop members to move into pro 7 A finger 5'5is pivotally mounted on rocking member 53 and a second tension rnember 51 tends to hold said finger onsaid"rockingmember in the position which it is shown to occupy in Fig. 14. "This finger engagesa lug 58a mountedon an eccentric 58 whichis mounted on shaft 59. Said shaft is'connected to the spring motor'25 and as said shaft is caused to rotate the mg is brought into intermittent engagement'with finger 56 of rocking member 53. The lug forces the rocking member into the position which it occupies in Fig. 15 and therebycauses stop member-5| to be re- ;'.tracted-:(thereby releasing the first eggin the gc'hute) andstop member 521130 be projected into engagement with the second egg in the chute. When lug SSadisengages from finger 56, spring :55. snaps said rocking member back into its position shown in Fig. 14. .Stop member .5] is therebyenabled to catch the second egg in line as' soon as it is released by stop member 52.

Eccentric 558 performs an additional .function. It will be-observed in .FigsJI l-and 15, as well as in Fig. 6, that eccentric 58 rides in an elongated slot 60 formed in log member '6I. A corresponding eccentric B2 rides in a corresponding slot 63 in the second leg member '64. What, however, is said of the first leg member and its eccentric 5E3 is=equa11y true of the second leg member and its eccentricEiZ; hence, it will be sufficient for pres- ;ent purposes to describe the functioning of the first ileg member only.

Leg 'membertl is pivoted to frame 30 by means of screw member 65. When the eccentric '58 is cause to ,rotate'on its shaft 59, it engages first one side of slot 60 and then its opposite side. Hence, the leg member is caused to engage in re ciprocating movement. Thus, leg member is :shown in forward position in Fig. 14 and in retracted or rear position in Fig. '15. Eccentric 62 is diametrically opposed to eccentric 5B and hence when leg member Bl moves forwardly leg member 64 is caused to move rearwardly, and by the same token whenleg member 6! moves rearwardly leg member '64 moves. forwardly.

Pivotally connected'to the bottom end of each leg member is a footzmember It. A spring member H engages the foot member i and urges it into the position which it is shown to occupy in Fig. 6, reference now being made to foot member H! which is connected to leg member 6!. A pair of wheels l2 and T3 is connected to foot member It, at its front and rear ends respectively. A toothed or ratched member 14 is connected to front wheel 12 and a similar toothed or ratchet member 15 is connected to rear wheel 13. A spring member 16 engages toothed member 14 above its central axis and it engages toothed member l5 below its axis. Hence, both toothed wheels are prevented from rotating in counterclockwise direction although they are free for rotation in clockwise direction. Since the toothed Wheels M and 15 are affixed respectively to wheels 12 and i3, these wheels will themselves be prevented from rotating in counter-clockwise direction, but they will of course be free to rotate in clockwise direction. Hence, when leg member 6| is moved rearwardly, wheels 12 and 73 will be locked against counter-clockwise rotation, and they will provide traction with the floor 80 on which the entire assembly rests. On the other hand, when the leg member moves forwardly, wheels I2 and 13 will be enabled to rotate in clockwise direction and no traction will be provided between them and the floor. Since both leg members El and 64 are provided with feet it, the same action will take place in connection with both leg members and their respective feet. To lend additional realism to the movement of feet It, the forward ends thereof will always be brought into upward position by tension member H except when the engagement of the rear end of the foot with the floor causes the foot to pivot in clockwise direction against the action of said spring, thereby bringing the forward end of the foot downwardly and into engagement with the floor.

A second type of foot member at is shown in Eigsi' 1-2 and :13. .-;Here iaxrear" wheel d2 iis aprovided, corresponding to :r-ear wheel :13 of duct member 1.0., ThiswheeliBZ IhQWGVEIiiS sfree to rotate in either :direction. ln'iplace of :Iront Wheel .72 however aserrated .plat ;8'=3 is provided, which .is pivoted -.at.. 8'4 to foot-member 1&l.' :It hasa horizontally-extending :fiange 35 which-enigagesv the top of foot member 58!.and-prevents When, on the-other hand, the' leg 'member m'oves forwardly said serrated plate will i be swung -upwardly into the dot and dash position which is shown in Fig. l2. Hence said serrated member "W111 offer no resistance 'to the forward movement .of theleg member.' I

It will *be seen from "the foregoing that the single spring motor "and its gear train arejithe means by which' the head and neckof the hen move, and the-cackling and clucking sounds are produced, and the'eggs are 'laidyand "tl'ie legs -are moved. Such bein the case, these several func- -tions of head moving, and cackling and clu'c'king, and egg laying, and-walking=-may be hadfin complete synchronization with each other. 'A starting and-stopping lever 93 is provided toengage the spring motor to prevent it from operating or to release or start it. Let it be'understood from the foregoing that the mechanism herein described may be changed inmanyrespects without-doing violence to the basic-principles of the invention herein claimed. Although a spring motor for example is shown in the drawing and described in the specification, other means may be used to supply the motive power of the device such as an electric motor connected to a dry cell. The specific types of cam shown in the drawing, by which the several movements of the several parts of the device hereinabove described are caused, are not critical and other types of cam may be used to equal advantage. The cams themselves are but illustrative of many different types of means for causing the movements under discussion. Cams and eccentrics for example may be used interchangeably, and for the purpose of the claims the term cam will be used to designate eccentrics as well as cams. Also illustrative of the manner in which the device herein described may be changed within the scope of the present invention are the following. The appearance of the toy may be changed from that of a hen to that of another animal such as a goose or duck. The sound mechanism would accordingly have to be changed to produce sounds simulating those which are made by geese and ducks. This might necessitate a change in the type of reed used or a variation in the shape or size of the serrated members which engage the reeds.

I claim:

1. A toy of the character described comprising a body, a head pivotally connected to said body, legs pivotally connected to said body, feet pivotally connected to said legs, a motor in said body, a cam operatively connected to said head and driven by said motor whereby the head is caused to pivot alternately forwardly and backwardly, cams operatively connected to said legs and driven by said motor in synchronization with the first-mentioned cam, whereby said legs are caused to pivot alternately forwardly and backwardly in simulation of walking movement, wheels carried by said feet and stop means preventing said feet from moving backwardly in relation to the floor which supports them, an egg laying mechanism in said body comprising a chute, a plurality of simulated eggs in said chute, a rocking member adjacent said chute, a pair of stop members connected to said rocking member and positioned for alternately engaging and disengaging the lowermost and adjacent eggs in said chute, means interconnecting said rocking member with the cam actuating one of the legs whereby the movement of said rocking member and the releasing of the eggs in the chute are synchronized with the movement of said leg, and a sound producing mechanism comprising reeds and toothed members driven by said motor and engaging said reeds, one of said toothed members being provided with non-continuous teeth to provide non-continuous sound, said reeds being mounted on a support which is pivotally connected to the body, said support being provided with means for engaging the cam which actuates the head to cause said support to engage in reciprocating pivotal movement, whereby the reeds are brought into alternately stronger and weaker engagement with the toothed members, thereby producing non-uniform sound in synchronization with the movement of the head.

2. A toy in accordance with claim 1 in which the means preventing backward movement of the feet comprises a ratchet mechanism connected to the wheels of said feet.

3. A toy in accordance with claim 1 in which the means preventing backward movement of the feet comprises floor-engaging members pivotally connected to said feet and meanspreventing said floor-engaging members from pivoting forwardly beyond a predetermined point.

4. In a device of the character described a body, a motor mounted in said body, a pair of serrated, reed-engaging members rotatably mounted in said body, one of said serrated members having continuous serrationsformed thereon and the other of said serrated members having non-continuous serrations formed thereon, means operatively connecting said serrated members to the said motor, whereby said serrated members may be caused to rotate, a reed support pivotally mounted in said body adjacent said serrated members, a pair of reeds on said support engaging said serrated members, and a cam driven by said motor and engaging said reed support for causing reciprocating pivotal movement of said reed support and the reeds mounted thereon, thereb bringing said reeds into alternately stronger and weaker engagement with said serrated members.

PHILIP KOPF.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name a Date 1,521,855 Baty et al. Jan. 6, 1925 1,783,511 Marx Dec. 2, 1930 2,147,215 Price Feb. 14, 1939 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 243,729 Great Britain Nov. 24, 1925 

